Primula Aluminum 1 Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker

OK, since Amazon now has this policy of publishing reviews to similar items as though they were for the specific items (beware of this when you read reviews! Read the fine print at the top of the review!), I hope this appears for all of these similar espresso makers, regardless of brand, because it works in all of them.

I've owned several of these, different brands and different sizes, and have been somewhat underwhelmed with their performance. "Emergency coffee" is what I used mine for. So one day I was at my son's house and he made me this incredible dry cappuccino. I immediately went to his kitchen to see what kind of machine he had bought, and was blown away when he showed me his old, beat-up and stained "6-cup" espresso maker, just like the ones in these reviews. I asked him how he managed to get that kind of performance out of this thing and he said the secret is in ignoring the published instructions and pretty much doing the opposite of what they suggest. Here's his instructions:

1. Grind your coffee to espresso fine. If you don't have a burr grinder capable of this, buy your coffee in small quantities and have them grind it for you.
2. Fill the coffee holder to a bit over-the-top and then tamp it lightly. A shot-glass or anything else that fits into the holder will do.
3. Then proceed as normal: fill the boiler to the brass safety valve with cold, filtered water, screw on the top, and put it on the stove.
4. Leave the lid open so you can watch what's going on, allow the coffee to flow until it starts bubbling a bit but not so long that it will boil!
5. Pour off the most amazing cup you've ever experienced from your Primula (or similar) espresso maker!

I now use the Primula more often than my $500 Gaggia machine. Less fuss and just about as good. Not better, but just about as good, and that's pretty darned good.

I have not had the problem with the gasket that other have had. Maybe they are using too much heat or like several reviewers have said poor quality control. I paid $4.99 for my 4 cup at a local supermarket, it make better espresso than my Tassimo machine and I have a friend that has a $500 Nespresso and it is better than that too. (Although he won't admit it!) My wife lived in Italy for 13 years and says this little thing brings her back to those days. Two important ways to use this: Do not pack the coffee in, just heap around 5 teaspoons and screw shut. And also use med-low heat and wait it out, the result is much better.

I bought this espresso maker after owning 3 different makes that all failed when the handles broke away from the makers. I specifically bought this model because the handle is attached to the body at two points and so less likely to work itself loose. The handle performed beautifully! The metal lid, however, has developed a crack that runs along the entire surface! This I didn't expect to have happen and now I find myself searching for another maker before this one fails completely. I used this maker every single day, so it obviously has seen quite a work out and I have loved everything about it -- taste of the coffee, ease of cleaning, ease of use in general, everything. I may even go ahead and purchase another one as I think it was very good value for the price (some of my other stovetop makers have cost more and lasted less), but I am frustrated at the fact that while it's engineered to solve one problem, it fails in another.

If you are an occasional espresso drinker who doesn't plan on 365 day/year performance, I would highly recommend this maker.